Today's Scripture:

Luke 18:9-14 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Read: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
The setting of Jesus’s parable and the narrative above all happened in a place of worship. The Pharisee was proud and self-righteous because he kept all the law, and, therefore, he was proud of all his religious accomplishments. He felt his status has earned him a religious superiority to people such as the tax collector, therefore he must shout it for all to hear in a place of worship. By contrast, the tax collector knew that as a sinner, he deserved only God’s wrath. The scripture stated that he stood at a distance - he would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The tax collector beat his chest as a deep sign of lament for his sin. This scripture reminded me that I am the Pharisee, and I’m Krissy. I stand accused, my sins have indicted me, and there is no way out. Instead, the judge who was set to condemn me, descended from His bench with great compassion in his eyes, and stated that I was forgiven. I will take the punishment on your behalf. The judge turned out to be my Savior who in an act of leniency granted me complete clemency and justification.

Reflect: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
My children’s music teacher had invited a couple of her music students to join the children’s choir at her church for the congregation’s Christmas children’s musical. The hallways of the church and the sanctuary were decorated with a Christmas tree and floral arrangements. The children were scheduled for two services that morning, and the atmosphere was filled with the spirit of Christmas. Time quickly passed and the musical was over, however, the parents had to wait while the kids ate. All parents gathered in a narrow hallway leaning on the wall. I looked around and realized that there were only two African American mothers. In conversation she asked “are you from Best Elementary?” "Yes," I answered, and she introduced herself as Kathy, and proceeded to tell me that her student goes to the same school. We stood next to each other, in the middle of the group of parents. A woman by the name Krissy approached the group with a basket full of neatly wrapped gifts and began speaking to Carly, one of the mothers that was also waiting. Carly and Krissy were both members of that church. During their conversation she mentioned that the gifts she was holding were hand made by an elderly woman in the church to be distributed to the children’s choir. Carly said to her that the kids were inside eating, and she should just go ahead and give the mothers the gifts and she agreed. Krissy distributed the gifts, skipped Kathy and I in the middle and continued with distributing the gifts to the other remaining mothers and walked away with the remaining gifts. I observed that all the mothers were either looking down or directing their gaze elsewhere. Carly ran after Krissy, and began talking to her and pointing at us, after a while Carly returned to her spot and waited. Krissy walked back and asked me if I wanted a gift for my student, I replied politely, “I am sorry, we do not need it,” she turned to Kathy and asked the same question. Kathy said yes, and I was glad she accepted it. Dear reader, what is going through your mind?

Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
Kathy came up to me and asked me, "What do you think of what happened back there?" My answer to Kathy was that Krissy needs to know more of Jesus, and I believe that Jesus is already working in her heart. Kathy was unchurched, and I explained to her that Jesus would have wanted Krissy to distribute the gifts fairly. Krissy's actions towards us meant we did not look like her nor did we look like the other mothers and, therefore, we did not deserve the gifts she was given to distribute, and I declined the gift because I live in sufficiency of grace. Jesus gave Himself as a gift for me and that is enough. This Lenten season presents an opportunity to go before God in lament of my sins and seek His face. I will beat on my chest and echo the words of the tax collector, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I will let go of my pride and self-righteousness and be cognizant of the people around me and not overlook anyone in church or out there in the world. Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus, let us run into the outstretched arms of God the Father for mercy. And let us be present in His suffering as He takes our punishment upon Himself. Hymn of Contemplation He left His Father's throne above So free, so infinite His grace Emptied Himself of all but love And bled for Adam's helpless race Tis mercy all, immense and free For O my God, it found out me! Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, should die for me? May God bless you this Lenten season.

About Stella Sekyere:
Hello, I’m Stella Sekyere. I was born and raised in Ghana. I’m a mother of two grown children, Anne Owusu (32) and Reynolds Owusu (29). I worked as a Specialty Registered Medical Assistant with Memorial Hermann for 23 years. I’m actively involved in the Ghanaian community here in Houston and the four Global Evangelical Churches in North America. I am a current student at the Flourish Institute of Theology (ECO’s very own Seminary) and was a student at Fuller Theological Seminary (2020-2022) and Global Theological Seminary, Ghana (2018-2021). I was ordained in 2021 in the Global Evangelical Church, Ghana. My formative years were in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, then later in the Global Evangelical Church of the Reformed Tradition and Presbyterian by Governance.
Member Grace Presbyterian Church in 1997- Present. Grace Chancel Choir: 2003-Present. Stephen’s Ministries: 2015-Present. Ordination candidate with Eco.